Cammalleri watch is on as Flames head into crunch time of the NHL trade deadline period

Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald03.03.2014

Calgary Flames centre Mike Cammalleri looks at his phone outside the dressing room in the service area of the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. There’s a good chance he will be dealt to a contender at the trade deadline on Wednesday.

It’s telling, no? A player, in his gym duds, walks down the hallway, cellphone clamped to his ear.

This development alone gets reporters and cameramen and photographers — while in the midst of a scrum with Calgary Flames coach Bob Hartley — buzzing.

Little more than 24 hours before the National Hockey League’s trade deadline — Wednesday at 1 p.m. — Michael Cammalleri’s innocent stroll through the corridors of the Scotiabank Saddledome had elicited an immediate ants-in-the-pants reaction by media members.

Everyone, it would seem, is anxious.

Well, nearly everyone.

“It was a personal call — it had nothing to do with hockey at all,” explained Cammalleri, who, in the last year of his contract, is a good bet to be shipped by Flames boss Brian Burke. “I just wanted to get some privacy. The next thing I knew, I was getting pictures taken (of me). I thought it was pretty obvious I was trying to get privacy. I didn’t know anybody saw me walk down the hall. That’s all that was.”

Cammalleri, further, downplayed the emotion of the days leading up to the deadline.

A whirlwind?

“Not so much,” replied Cammalleri. “Until something happens — or doesn’t happen — you just try your best to go about your business as usual. Got a workout in, just like everyone else. That’s it.”

But the wee winger was hardly in a total state of denial.

“Where you are in your contract — and those implications — and the rumours and certain things add up that make you think of different probabilities. You can’t help but notice these things,” said Cammalleri. “But if you’ve been through it before . . . nothing surprises you either way. You might as well try your best to go about your business as usual.”

Cammalleri was also asked about Wednesday’s order of business.

Burke, earlier in the day, had referred to a “logjam” of top-end forwards — the likes, no doubt, of Ryan Kesler, Thomas Vanek, Matt Moulson — that are gumming up the works. Meaning that before lower-profile players get dealt the dam must break loose.

“I feel like my best hockey is ahead of me,” said Cammalleri, 31, who has collected 22 points in 44 appearances this winter. “I feel great about my game. So, whether it’s here or whatever happens, I’m not concerned about my ability to help a team out.”

OK, one last crack at the chap.

Mike, do you have a preference? East or West?

“I haven’t thought in those terms.”

But Burke, in Tuesday’s availability with reporters, had sounded like a man who is willing to make changes. Lots of changes. And soon.

He talked about moving his free agents (guys such as Cammalleri, Lee Stempniak, Chris Butler).

He talked about making “hockey trades” — asset-for-asset deals with nothing to do with money.

He talked about swallowing salary to get rid of his own players. He talked about eating salary from other teams to get prospects.

In other words, everyone — short of captain Mark Giordano and rookie Sean Monahan — is in play.

All of which can create an antsy atmosphere.

“Obviously, guys keep this (to) themselves,” said Hartley. “The agents are working the phone. You guys certainly keep us well informed. That’s the time of the season. So it’s no surprise. At this time of the year, it’s usually always veterans that get traded. It’s not their first rodeo. It’s always still nerve-racking and disturbing. (Wednesday night) we have a game. And the good thing is, the trade deadline will be done by game time. If you ask me, I’d rather play (Wednesday) than (Tuesday).

“The next hours should be interesting.”

Perhaps the NHL shouldn’t schedule any action for deadline day.

“Hey, we have so many games to put in, in a tight schedule . . . is there a perfect schedule?” said Hartley. “I’m just glad that I’m not the one that has to put (together) schedules for 30 teams. I don’t know how it’s done, but the one that does it? I don’t want his job.”

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Cammalleri watch is on as Flames head into crunch time of the NHL trade deadline period